WordValeambivalent
having mixed or contradictory feelings
In more detail
having two conflicting feelings or opinions about someone or something at the same time
Examples
- I feel ambivalent about moving to a new city because I'm excited about the opportunity but sad to leave my friends.
How to use ambivalent
Ambivalent describes simultaneous conflicting emotions or attitudes rather than mere indifference or lack of opinion. It is commonly used in both formal and everyday contexts when discussing complex psychological states or attitudes toward people, situations, or decisions. Unlike uncertain, which suggests a lack of information, ambivalent implies the presence of competing feelings.
Common phrases
- feel ambivalent about
- remain ambivalent
- somewhat ambivalent
- deeply ambivalent
- ambivalent attitude toward
Synonyms
conflicted · torn · uncertain · undecided · mixed
Opposites
certain · decisive · committed
Word family
ambivalence (noun) · ambivalently (adverb)
A common mistake
Many learners confuse ambivalent with ambiguous; ambivalent refers to conflicting feelings (attitude), while ambiguous refers to unclear or multiple meanings (interpretation).
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